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ASK's local and statewide partners go above and beyond to host fundraising events and further ongoing efforts to engage our community in support of children with cancer and their families in Virginia. PARTNER EVENTS EVENTS We are grateful to our amazing local and statewide partners, who go above and beyond to host fundraising events and further ongoing efforts to engage our community in support of ASK kids and families. Interested in hosting your own fundraiser? Learn more here! Upcoming Events: Explore Menu Captain Tom and Charlie's 8th Annual MLB Opening Day Baseball Party Date: March 27th Time: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Place: Gus' Italian Cafe 7358 Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville, VA, USA Celebrate the opening day of baseball at Gus' with a grand party to raise funds for ASK! Expect an exciting silent auction, 50/50 raffle, and a museum-worthy display of baseball memorabilia from our friend, Ron Pomfrey. Learn More Art Factory Ice Cream Night Date: April 24th Time: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM Place: Art Factory 4810 Market Square Lane, Midlothian, VA, USA You scream. I scream. We all scream for ICE CREAM! Come out to the Art Factory and celebrate Spring with a tasty bite of ice cream sweetened by knowing that 20% of all sales go right back to ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation. Ongoing Efforts: FBLA Project ASK The FBLA has been a valued partner of ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation for over 40 years. FBLA chapters and their students are challenged to raise awareness and funds towards ASK's goal of making life better for children with cancer across Virginia. Let's make 2024-2025 the best year yet! $5,000 will give 5 graduating seniors a $1,000 scholarship to support them in their next steps after high school. Every dollar makes a huge difference! We couldn't do what we do without YOU. Learn More YOU make a difference Thank you for your partnership, and for taking a stand to lessen the burden of cancer for our kids and families throughout Virginia! How Your Support Helps

Make a difference through nonprofit careers with ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation. Join the team and work with purpose to make life better for childhood cancer families in Virginia. Enjoy competitive insurance coverage, PTO and IRA benefits. AT ASK CAREERS Looking to join the ASK team? See if we're hiring > Work seems less like "work" when you’re helping to make life easier for kids with cancer and serious blood disorders. ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation is an Equal Opportunity employer. ASK believes attracting and retaining diverse staff is crucial to serving our community and fulfilling our mission. ASK offers a competitive salary, a pleasant, energetic work environment, and an engaging, purposeful workplace culture. We invite you to learn more about our benefits and open positions! Insurance Coverage Health, dental and vision coverage, short & long-term disability and life insurance* Simple IRA & Match Simple IRA Plan with 100% match (up to 3% of salary) PTO & Holidays Ample paid time off, holidays and summer Fridays Team Building Monthly birthday celebrations and regular get-togethers *Only available for full-time staff at this time. Open Positions We're Hiring! Take a look below to learn more about our open positions and how to apply. Program and Impact Coordinator DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS Program and Impact Coordinator The Program and Impact Coordinator will support programs in the following Virginia communities: Central Virginia, Southwest Virginia, Charlottesville, Hampton Roads, and Northern Virginia. ASK’s programs provide emotional, social, educational, and financial support to children and families during and after pediatric cancer treatment. This position manages the program database, financial assistance program, data analytics, and evaluation strategies while providing administrative support to program staff. Key Responsibilities Manage and administer the Making Life Better Fund for direct financial assistance. Administer gift card assistance as needed and in coordination with the Family Support Manager. Design, update, and maintain the client database (Apricot), including staff training and ongoing evaluation, to ensure that it meets the program team's needs and goals. Input and organize various data types into the database from physical and digital sources, ensuring accuracy and data integrity. Lead, design, and administer annual program evaluation strategy to determine impact and areas of improvement. Gather, organize, and analyze data to answer questions and identify key trends for strategic decisions. Generate reports to the program, development, and leadership team related to client and program metrics. Provide quantitative and qualitative data for grant reports. Provide support as needed for social, community, and education programs, including but not limited to registration, bill payment, promotion, communication, and administrative follow- up. Support program staff and marketing with monthly and quarterly newsletters and print materials (flyers, postcards, etc) as needed. Attend and support program team events/socials as needed. Education, Experience & Skills Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent professional experience; at least five years prior administrative experience preferred. Database, evaluation, and data analytics experience required. Experience in the cancer treatment process is highly favored but not necessary. Must be self-disciplined and motivated to work in a challenging environment. Organized and able to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Ability to collaborate with staff and clients of diverse backgrounds and needs. Ability to build relationships across a diverse population. Ability to work independently while functioning within a team. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. This is a full-time, in-person position. The salary range starts at $50,000. Occasional evening and weekend work is required. The position reports to the Family Support Manager. ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation is an Equal Opportunity employer. It believes attracting and retaining diverse staff is crucial to serving our community and fulfilling our mission. ASK offers a competitive salary, health benefits, a simple IRA with match, holidays, and PTO, a pleasant, energetic work environment, and an engaging, purposeful workplace culture. To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@askccf.org , with the subject line “Program Impact Coordinator". About ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation: Founded in 1975, ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation (askccf.org ) is Virginia’s most comprehensive provider of support services for children with cancer and serious blood disorders as well as their families. Our mission is to make their life better by providing emotional, social, financial, and educational support. Apply Director of Programs ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation is seeking a Director of Programs to lead and grow its support programs for children with cancer and their families. ASK has been providing impactful, programs in Central Virginia since 1975 and began expanding statewide in 2023. This is a great opportunity for an individual who is experienced in program and team management and is excited to build a statewide program to improve the lives of children with cancer across the Commonwealth. ASK provides comprehensive support programs for pediatric oncology patients, survivors, siblings, and caregivers in three core areas: family support, educational support, and community & connection. This role includes, but is not limited to team leadership, program design, management and expansion, budget management, cross-team collaboration, and communication. This person will report to the Executive Director and serve on the leadership team. Responsibilities include: Leadership & Team Management Foster strong communication and collaboration among team members and treatment center partners to facilitate change management during organizational growth. Partner with staff members to support them with their personal development goals through coaching and mentorship. Motivate and inspire employees toward accomplishing the mission of ASK by helping them to believe in the vision and setting a positive and engaging work culture. Hire, onboard, and train staff to support program growth and organizational needs. Set priorities, assess and allocate resources, foster needed skills development among team members, and celebrate successes. Work with staff to strengthen objective performance measurements across all programs to ensure consistent, high-quality goal setting for all program team members. Ensure program operations and activities adhere to legal guidelines and internal policies. Strategic Growth and Program Development Lead strategic, sustainable growth and expansion of ASK’s programs statewide while continuing to ensure high-quality programs in Richmond region. Oversee annual tactical planning and team initiatives to support ASK’s strategic plan and mission delivery. Oversee the budget process to ensure that programs are adequately resourced, and expenditures managed throughout the fiscal year. Establish best practices and standard operating procedures to streamline workflow and provide a strong foundation for sustainable growth. Oversee program evaluations and establish metrics to assess effectiveness and impact to provide transparency and support decision-making. Manage program communications to align with ASK’s strategic vision and messaging guide to support program engagement and expansion. Cultivate strong relationships with pediatric cancer treatment centers and community partners. Establish and maintain working agreements and reporting requirements to support partnerships. Oversee education support navigator program and fulfill grant program reporting requirements to the Virginia Department of Health. Oversee planning, marketing, speaker recruitment, and execution of the annual conference. Oversee the development of bilingual program support to better serve Spanish-speaking immigrant families. Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with ASK families, volunteers, community partners, board members, and pediatric treatment centers. Build statewide partnerships with key stakeholders to further ASK’s mission. To be successful in this role, the Director of Programs will have: Demonstrated success as a people-focused leader who excels in managing, developing, coaching, and retaining individuals and teams. Strong project management skills resulting in measurable success and program growth. Excellent verbal and written communication skills with exceptional attention to detail. Demonstrated success in building and cultivating community partnerships. Proficiency in technology as a management reporting and program evaluation tool. Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to and passion for ASK’s mission. Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree in social work or relevant experience working in social service programs. Demonstrated success in leading and managing teams. Demonstrated success in creating and managing a budget of over $1 million. Change management experience. Considerable knowledge in the social and human services field. This is a full-time, in-person position requiring some evening and weekend hours. The salary range starts at $95,000 and is based on experience. ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation is an Equal Opportunity employer. ASK believes attracting and retaining diverse staff is crucial to serving our community and fulfilling our mission. ASK offers a competitive salary, a simple IRA with match, holidays, PTO, a pleasant, energetic work environment, and an engaging, collaborative workplace culture. Note that the Director of Programs will be based at ASK’s Family Center, located at 5211 W. Broad Street, Suite 100, Richmond, VA. To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@askccf.org , by February 28, 2025. with the subject line “Director of Programs”. About ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation: Founded in 1975, ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation (askccf.org.) is Virginia’s most comprehensive support services provider for children with cancer and serious blood disorders and their families. Our mission is to make their life better by providing family support, educational support and community & connection. Apply

Explore the best ways to give at ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation. Donate funds, snacks, toys, gift cards, and more to make a difference for children and families. WAYS TO GIVE GIVE When you give to ASK, it provides educational support, family and financial support, and program events that offer community and connection. This amazing support means our families have the resources they need to make it through the most challenging days – but there’s more we can do, which is why we need you! Donate Snacks & Drinks Snacks and drinks offer comfort to patients, parents and siblings who often spend long hours at clinic during appointments or at our program events. Shop Snacks Make A Gift Today Donate to provide an ASK family with emotional, financial and educational support as they navigate the twists and turns of their childhood cancer journey. Make a Donation Donate Toys & Treasures Treasure box toys, games and crafts provide a much-needed distraction and pick-me-up after difficult and stressful procedures during treatment. Shop Toys Donate Gift Cards From gasoline to groceries, gift cards help our families stay on top of their mounting everyday expenses. Get in touch with us to see what’s needed most. Contact Us Ways to Donate Join The 1975 Society & Leave A Lasting Legacy As you consider your own legacy, we invite you to think about how you can make a lasting difference in the lives of children with cancer and their families. Since 1975, ASK has been providing comprehensive support to families across Virginia, including financial assistance for everyday expenses, educational support for patients returning to school, and so much more. By including ASK in your plans, you can continue making life better for children with cancer for generations to come. Learn more below about the ways you can make life better for our families in this generation and beyond! Learn More Begin Your Legacy With Us We partner with FreeWill, an online tool that guides you through the process of creating a legally valid will or trust. It’s easy to use, accessible online and can be completed in just a few minutes. Click the link below to document your wishes before finalizing your plans with an attorney. Start My Will Gift Intent Form Have you already included a gift in your will or trust? Please fill out this form to let us know! We would love to thank you for your generosity. Fill Out Form Non-Probate Assets Do you have an IRA, 401(k), life-insurance policy, or any other assets not included in your will? If so, these are called non-probate assets and you must plan your beneficiaries for them separately. Use this online tool to make your plans and designate us as a beneficiary of one or more of these assets. Designate My Beneficiaries Other Ways to Give United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg Our United Way Agency Number: 3175 Employer Donation Matching See if your employer wi ll match your donation! Click here to get started. The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign Our CVC Number: 03281 YOU make a difference Thank you for taking a stand to lessen the burden of cancer for our kids and families throughout Virginia with your time, treasure and talents. How Your Support Helps

Up until the day of his  B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL)  diagnosis, Declan was your typical preschooler,  hungry for activities. He was in swim lessons, ninja classes, and ran around the playground like it was his job.  He would do anything to keep his body moving. That is, until the day he couldn’t: he was suddenly too tired to run around at recess, and that’s when Declan’s mom, Elizabeth, sensed something was really wrong with her son.    ASK Mom Elizabeth remembers the early signs of her son's diagnosis, but didn’t think too much of them at the time. "He had broken his leg in May and then had a tonsillectomy in August, so some of the signs that we were actually noticing, we excused away, because when he was like, 'oh, my legs hurt,' we [thought] maybe he's just, you know, growing and getting adjusted to being out of a cast. And when he was looking tired, we [thought], 'Okay, well, it takes a while to get used to, you know, life and sleep after tonsillectomy. Maybe that's it…' But the one that really set us over the edge [was when Declan] came home from preschool on a Wednesday and said, 'Mama, I was just too tired to run at school. So I just sat and chatted with my teacher instead.' We were like, 'Oh, that's not our child.” Life changed quickly for Declan and his family the moment they received his lab results. Elizabeth recalls the life-changing news, "It wasn't gradual, but it was definitely instantaneous like, 'Okay, that's weird that he's not running around.' Declan was four when he was [officially diagnosed with B-cell ALL]. It was just before Thanksgiving [2023]."  Still, the family reflects on the timing of the diagnosis as a miracle. "He was diagnosed that [Friday] morning by Dr. Edwards. And then, he had his bone marrow biopsy later that day. We had to wait until Sunday for his port to get placed, and then he started chemo on Monday. So, [it was] less than a week between us noticing something [was off] and the chemo actually starting, which is another miracle. A lot of other cancer moms have told me it took them weeks and multiple ER visits to get a diagnosis," explained Elizabeth. The first five or six rounds of chemotherapy were challenging. "It was really intense. Life just sort of stopped. We were carefree and easy one day, and then the next, we had a kid with cancer." Elizabeth said. She had to leave her job to care for him and his two-year-old sister full-time, while Declan's father and older brother continued with work and middle school. But without Elizabeth’s income, finances got tight. ASK was able to help them stay afloat by helping with certain monthly expenses. Without that aide, Elizabeth says they might not have been able to stay in their home. Facing housing insecurity on top of a cancer diagnosis isn’t something anyone should have to deal with. Thanks to ASK, it wasn’t something they needed to worry about. Declan also had to stop attending preschool due to his diagnosis. ASK Education Support Navigator, Amy Fender made sure to get Declan resources and activities to help him overcome any gaps from his missed time in school. Amy is one of six Navigators stationed at each of Virginia's five pediatric cancer treatment centers. These dedicated professionals bridge the gap between hospital inpatient stays and the patients' schools, helping them stay on grade level and receive the necessary accommodations to succeed. They provide training for teachers and parents on the long-term effects that chemo has on the students. This year, Declan was able to start kindergarten in August and is currently in the maintenance phase of his treatment, which includes daily chemotherapy at home and in-clinic chemotherapy every three months.  Shortly after Declan began his current stage of treatment, he and his family had to move to Indiana, leaving their friends, family, and clinic—essentially, their entire support network—behind. Despite being out of state and ten hours away from Carilion Children's Hospital, though, they were able to still use some of that critical support network, even from a distance, through the amazing educational resources Amy Fender provided them. "Declan is finally to a point where he wants to tell his classmates about his diagnosis," Elizabeth explains. "Amy emailed me presentations, snail-mailed flyers, got us a “Monkey from Monkey in My Chair,” and even sent us things we can pass out to his classmates. It's been amazing. We were able to confidently talk to his classmates about his diagnosis and they were so receptive to it." Navigating childhood cancer is not easy for any family. ASK ensures that families have financial, educational, and emotional support from the time of the child's diagnosis through adulthood. "Cancer touches every part of life, and it's hard to go through it; it's hard to survive it as a family. And without someone like ASK filling in the gaps for the things you don't even know that you don't know, it wouldn’t be possible. When you start the cancer journey, you don't know what you're going to need. You don't know where you're going to be struggling, and you're struggling everywhere. Being in a different state with different resources, we truly know the difference between having ASK and not having ASK. It is huge. ASK makes the journey so much easier, which isn’t a small thing when you’re talking about a complete upheaval in your lives like a pediatric cancer diagnosis causes." - Elizabeth ASK Kid Declan's Mom Today, Declan loves jumping on the trampoline, building with his Legos, and playing with his friends at school. Since doing physical therapy, running around and being active is getting easier for him.  "[Declan's] really into imaginative play and pretending; we recently just listened to Phantom of the Opera, and he loves pretending to be Phantom, and his little sister plays the role of Christine. They'll do a whole play for us, which has been really fun. We’re adjusting to life with a cancer diagnosis. It’s becoming our normal, just another thing we do doing our day. It’s crazy that cancer is normal for us. I never thought we’d ever think of this as routine and un-extraordinary. But we do. And ASK was a major part of getting us to this point.”

Ethan is an intelligent, funny, outgoing 15-year-old who loves acting, Korean barbecue, and his corgi named Gatsby. As he was getting ready to begin the next chapter and the giddiness of starting high school, Ethan started to notice a sharp pain in his knee, and his life changed forever.   Despite trying to keep a positive attitude, he felt this was much more serious. "For about 5 months until my diagnosis, I noticed a lot of knee and femur pain when I walked or used stairs…My parents and I dismissed it as growing pains, but it went on for months and got worse with time, and that's when we made an appointment to see the orthopedic doctor's office. They did an X-ray, and we got the news the very next morning at 9 am. None of us will forget that day. It's ingrained in us forever," Ethan recalled that day. Annie, Ethan’s mom, pulled her son out of school and tearfully explained to Ethan what the doctors had found in the X-ray. "We sat on the bench outside of my school, and in between her sobbing, she told me that I had Osteosarcoma…the first thing I asked was, 'Am I going to die?'" Ethan recalled the moment, stating, "The fear was immediate. My first question was, 'Am I going to die?'" He was just a freshman in high school when he received his diagnosis. From there, it was all a blur. Ethan and his mother abruptly left the school and began working with the doctors at Inova Schar Cancer Institute to develop a treatment plan. Ethan received his chemotherapy port as soon as school let out for the summer. The shift was jarring, a complete upheaval of his teenage life. "I had never experienced such a change, ” Ethan recalled, “from being such a happy kid focusing on school to then being on four different chemo infusions, and all the while, 12 liters of water is being pumped inside me a day. I lost all of my hair within the first two weeks of chemo and had to attend classes virtually.  Everything happened so fast. My entire life changed after that phone call." But the fight wasn’t over. After enduring the grueling chemotherapy, Ethan faced another significant challenge: surgery, and the subsequent journey to regain his mobility. "In August of that same year, I got surgery to excise my femur where the cancer was and replace it with a titanium implant that will lengthen as I grow. How cool is that?" Ethan was amazed by how advanced medical procedures had gotten. However, the marvel of modern medicine didn't erase the immense physical effort required for recovery. The titanium implant was a technological wonder, but learning to use it was a different story entirely. But learning to walk was no easy task for a growing teenager. Ethan shared that the process was “one of the hardest things I've ever done, and I had to cope with quite literally everything. It was hard to learn to walk from scratch literally, but with enough physical therapy and support from my orthopedic surgeon, I was able to take my first tall steps. First very slowly with a walker, then steadily with crutches and now, by the grace of God, I can almost run.” Throughout Ethan’s journey, ASK has provided consistent support and a strong community for him and his family. Like many families facing a pediatric cancer diagnosis, they encountered significant financial challenges. Ethan's parents prioritized his medical needs, leading to a substantial financial burden. ASK helped them navigate available resources and alleviated some of that strain. "It really pulled us through the dark clouds and gave us hope. It gave us a real sense of community and gave us hope in humanity in a world where that is sometimes hard to remember. It brought us closer together as a family unit. It made us really remember to be in the moment and that life can be fleeting. With or without cancer." - Annie ASK Kid Ethan's Mom Ethan successfully returned to school mid-sophomore year, resuming his life alongside his peers. While regular check-ups continue, he's overcome the most significant hurdles and is embracing every opportunity with gratitude. He and his family have found comfort in making lifelong friends with the doctors, nurses, and staff on the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology floor at Inova and, of course, ASK. Now off all treatment except physical therapy to further strengthen his leg, Ethan is channeling his energy into his passion for theater. When asked about what he wants people to know about childhood cancer and being a survivor, Ethan closed out with, "I think it's really important that everyone knows that there is a light to the end of the tunnel. Push and keep fighting the battle until it's over; even then, don't stop. Live life to the fullest."

Why do we do advocacy work?  Using our voice for children with cancer in Virginia results in a more powerful impact.   Right now, there are approximately 550 children diagnosed with cancer here in Virginia . That’s enough children to fill eighteen school buses!  Before we stepped up to start organizing advocacy efforts here in Virginia in 2018, children with cancer did not have a voice at the Virginia General Assembly, and that lack of representation showed. At the time, 0% of Virginia’s $20 million in cancer funding went toward children undergoing treatment. Through the efforts of our more than one hundred dedicated advocates across the state, children with cancer are now on the radar of our state legislators. In 2022, we secured state funding for the first time for the ASK Educational Support Navigator Program. Since then, Virginia also approved funding for pediatric cancer research.  Now 11.4% are designated for children. Securing this funding is a significant step in showing Virginia’s commitment to supporting children with cancer, and that only happened because advocates shared their stories and demonstrated the need. We work collaboratively on our advocacy efforts with the Cancer Action Coalition of Virginia and all five primary pediatric oncology and hematology treatment centers: Carilion Children’s, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, Inova Schar Cancer Institute, and UVA Children’s Hospital. Our advocacy efforts support all children in cancer treatment and help raise the level of care across the Commonwealth. That is why receiving and maintaining this funding is so crucial. We know that when children are supported, they succeed, and all children deserve the opportunity to succeed. The Education Support Navigator Program is making a difference every day. In the program’s first year, 502 pediatric cancer patients and survivors received back-to-school support. Additionally, 105 educators across Virginia learned about childhood cancer and how to support children returning to school. Our program has already received national attention. It was featured at the Hospital Educators and Academic Liaison national conference and was a featured program during the Center for Disease Control’s recent visit to Virginia. We hope to serve as a model program for other states to have an even more significant impact. Alma Morgan, Associate Director of Education speaking at the Childhood Cancer Advocacy Day Breakfast. Alma Morgan, ASK’s Associate Director of Education, expressed her enthusiasm for the program at this year's Childhood Cancer Advocacy Day Breakfast, saying, “We wouldn't have our six navigators across the state without you, and the impact has just been not good, it's been tremendous. Exceptional! I can't use enough terms to describe it. We have six navigators now, and when we started three years ago, we had five. One in each treatment center. As we were training them, we used the special sauce of ASK, which is about relationships with patients and families. You have to gain their trust, and you have to constantly be there at their clinic appointments… So thank you for your support. Thank you! We did, in Northern Virginia this past year, hire a new navigator. A bilingual navigator because we need them to work more with our Spanish-speaking families. So we are growing for the needs out there!” Since 2023, the launch of our Educational Support Navigator Program, it’s been critical that we  continue our advocacy efforts to help ensure support for our ASK children and families. This year, our advocacy efforts are two-fold. First, we shared the impact of our education support navigator program with legislators at Virginia’s Childhood Cancer Advocacy Day on January 23 to ensure continued funding. Second, we want to continue to improve the lives of families in treatment, by placing our advocacy support behind efforts regarding paid family medical leave. Roughly 1 in 4 families diagnosed with pediatric cancer report losing more than 40% of their annual household income as a result of treatment-related work disruption, which doesn’t even take into account out-of-pocket expenses like traveling to and from the hospital or extra childcare at home. The numbers behind the smiles: Cancer-related financial toxicity remains a pressing issue for our families across the state, and paid family medical leave would help alleviate some of that and give our parents more time to care for their children during treatment. Additionally, we understand that financial hardship persists for families at least a year after therapy ends, and that is why as an organization, we remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting children with cancer and those in survivorship by providing young adult support and all around comprehensive support to our families from the moment of diagnosis, through treatment and beyond. As Alma Morgan, ASK's Associate Director of Education, explains, “We do a lot of work with young adults in regards to vocational opportunities. In our survivorship clinic here at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, we follow children for life. I am there every Monday and some of my patients are close to 50 years old. We have such a comprehensive team, and we do such good work.” It’s because of advocates like yourself and the amazing support from the communities we serve, that ASK is able to lend a helping hand when our families need it the most. Together, we will continue to advocate to make life better for children with cancer and their families across the Commonwealth and help ensure they never have to face this fight alone!